In a recent development, The Washington Post has published a guide on how to participate in a nationwide boycott against several major corporations, including Amazon, the online retail behemoth founded by Jeff Bezos, who also owns the Post.
This boycott is scheduled for today, as reported by The Washington Free Beacon.
The Post's article, titled "What to know about the no-shopping economic blackout on Feb. 28," serves as a guide for a boycott orchestrated by the Peoples Union USA. This newly formed group has issued clear instructions to its supporters: "Do not shop online, or in-store. No Amazon, No Walmart, No Best Buy. Nowhere!" While the Post's article does not directly encourage readers to join the boycott, it does present the groups reasoning for the boycott, details about the targeted companies, and the timeline for future boycotts planned for the coming month.
The article poses the question, "How can you participate?" and goes on to quote the Peoples Union USA's advice against "shopping online, ordering from restaurant chains or filling up at the gas station." The Post further advises, "If you do need to buy something, shop local. And if you can, take the day off from work."
The Post's piece also includes an AI-generated summary of reader responses, which reveals strong support for "a protest against large corporations, particularly targeting Amazon and other companies perceived to support the current administration." This could potentially create an uncomfortable situation for the Post, especially following Bezoss recent announcement that the newspaper will emphasize "free markets" and "personal liberties" in its opinion section.
This shift, announced by Bezos, has sparked backlash from numerous Post journalists and others outside the newsroom. David Shipley, the longtime Post opinion editor, resigned from the paper, while Post economics reporter Jeff Stein labeled it a "massive encroachment" on the editorial decisions of the newspaper. Freelance tech journalist and frequent CNN commentator Kara Swisher referred to Bezos as "feral," and accused him of having "killed" the First Amendment.
The Post's article also outlines a schedule of boycotts that Peoples Union USA is planning against individual companies, including Amazon. The group is advocating for a boycott against Amazon and its affiliate Whole Foods from March 7-14. The group also plans to target Nestl, Walmart, and General Mills in the coming months.
The article provides scant background information on Peoples Union USA, which was incorporated in Illinois earlier this month by meditation therapist John Schwarz. Schwarz has initiated a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for the boycott and is selling merchandise featuring the Peoples Union USA logo, which depicts a black power fist.
Schwarz, who is white, has stated that money raised through GoFundMe will "go toward legal fees, organization development, web development, outreach, marketing, event organization, and more." He assures that "everything is transparent, and every dollar is accounted for."
In a related development, other organizations are planning boycotts against companies that have abandoned their DEI programs. Activist and MSNBC host Al Sharpton announced on the liberal network that his group, the National Action Network, will soon boycott two companies for ending DEI initiatives.
This could potentially cause regulatory issues for MSNBC and its parent company Comcast, as the Federal Communications Commission has recently launched an investigation into Comcasts DEI practices.
Login